Provisional Suspension on Tolpar Ufa Hockey Players Lifted, Thanks to Clever Consult Support

Several samples collected in the past year from members of Tolpar junior ice hockey team (affiliated with Salavat Yulayev team from Ufa) reportedly contained traces of prohibited substances.

It is worth noting that the concentration of the prohibited substances in the samples fell below the minimum level for reporting them as an Adverse Analytical Finding by the lab.The athletes were nevertheless provisionally suspended, which was somewhat out of the ordinary, because in this particular case it was not mandatory under the Russian Anti-Doping Rules.

Yet, the young hockey players were notified of a possible violation of article 4.2 of the Russian Anti-Doping Rules (Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method) carrying a maximum sanction of a four-year period of ineligibility. All of them were advised concurrently about the imposition of a provisional suspension. The decision to challenge the provisional suspension imposed on all the young athletes in the RUSADA Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee (RUSADA DAC) was deemed crucial to safeguard their sports potential.

The RUSADA DAC hearings were complex and highly demanding. Our legal team compiled a thorough legal argument, with consistent references to CAS precedent, which effectively showcased the disproportional nature of the measure imposed on the hockey players. The case was supported by a variety of evidence.As a result, RUSADA DAC lifted the provisional suspension on all the young athletes, after agreeing with the position presented by our legal team during the hearing.

It brings us joy that we were able to help the guys get back to their training routines and competitions!